Foreign Ministry's press releases

The Russian Government has banned certain agricultural and food imports to Russia. The products targeted by the Russian import ban represent approximately 5 per cent of Finland's exports to Russia and approximately 0.5 per cent of Finland's total exports.

The primary goal of the budget proposal given by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs is to secure the Finnish network of foreign missions and keep it correctly dimensioned. The proposal takes also account of the fact that the visa charge revenues from Russia will diminish significantly.

The UN General Assembly unanimously adopted the third UN resolution on mediation proposed by Finland and Turkey. Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja says the consensus resolution marks a significant step forward.

Authorised by the European Council, the EU Council's Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) has today agreed on new restrictive measures against Russia. The measures relate to the four sectors decided on by the EU Foreign Ministers in their Council meeting last week.

By decision of the OECD Council, Member of Parliament Mari Kiviniemi was appointed Deputy Secretary-General of the organization for a term of two years on 25 July.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has been in contact with the family and employer of the deceased, and has expressed condolences.

The Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union will meet in Brussels on 22 July. Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja will represent Finland at the meeting. The topics of discussion at the Foreign Affairs Council are the situation in Ukraine, the Middle East and Iraq. With regard to Ukraine, the discussion will focus, among others, on recent events, efforts aiming at a negotiated solution and the EU’s actions.

By decision of Minister for International Development Pekka Haavisto, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has granted 500,000 euros to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) for relief work in Gaza and 350,000 euros to Finn Church Aid for relief work.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland has made a decision to grant a total of EUR 27.5 million to 28 International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) for their development cooperation efforts. A Call for Proposals for INGO support was announced in April earlier this year. The Ministry received a total of 125 applications seeking funding for approximately EUR 130 million.

Development Minister Pekka Haavisto will attend the Informal Meeting of EU Development Ministers in Florence on 15 July. The main topics of the ministers’ discussions are the global UN Post-2015 Development Agenda and the role of the private sector in development.